Woody Allen begins filming his 51st movie in Madrid amid local controversy

Woody Allen, the Oscar-winning filmmaker whose career spans six decades, began filming his 51st movie on the bustling streets of Madrid earlier this month, attracting dozens of curious spectators as traffic was halted. At a press briefing, Allen described Madrid as an elegant, beautiful setting that matched the diplomatic atmosphere he envisions for the story, noting the appeal of European boulevards and historic architecture.

The production, whose title will incorporate the word Madrid, is projected to generate roughly 1,200 direct jobs and nearly 2,300 indirect positions, with financial support from both the city hall and the regional government. The audiovisual sector already accounts for 2.2% of the region’s annual output, with over 2,100 shoots recorded in 2025. However, the city’s growing cultural cachet has coincided with a soaring housing market, prompting protests after an 87-year-old pensioner was evicted from her lifelong home, an incident that helped trigger an early general election scheduled for November 29.